It is curious the actual complexity that goes into building a new taskbar. I do know that this is also a highly requested feature people are asking Microsoft to implement. Their response is also that it is too much work.
To users such as us it seems a lot more simpler to implement. So, I do wonder myself what exactly makes adding features to Windows 11's taskbar soo tricky.
If the Docs article is correct the Dev team at MS seem to all be doing there own thing without much cross department involvement, so the mind does Boggle mate. Seen some truly wonderful Taskbars in previous WB, but i have to say, the one i love the most (For How It Looks and Works) is the one i am using now in my Tron Legacy Theme, alongside the Competitors Start Menu Replacement, looks brilliant and can be put, left, right, up or down, although after years of seeing it one way, it is so strange.
I have relied a lot on you concerning Start 11 and it's development, yes i do own a copy, but as it is on my Win 10 SSD, i hardly ever use it . Would it even work with a Theme and not a WB, i do know they both are symbiotic, needing another program to get the full effect. Right now i know which i prefer, but as my man hours on Start11 are limited, my opinion is not Valid unlike yours, who has put in the time and effort bud.